Financial Chief Greg Brown leaves District 100 for Rockford

• ROCKFORD SCHOOL BOARD

Experienced Chief Financial Officer Joins RPS 205 Leadership Team

Rockford Public Schools

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 2:11 PM

Belvidere School District’s longtime finance leader Dr. Greg Brown will join Rockford Public Schools next month as its Chief Financial Officer and member of the district’s leadership team.

Belvidere School District’s longtime finance leader Dr. Greg Brown will join Rockford Public Schools next month as its Chief Financial Officer and member of the district’s leadership team. Dr. Brown will replace Chief Financial Officer Michelle Jahr when she retires in December. 

Dr. Brown has worked as CFO for the Belvidere School District since 2009. He has a master’s degree in education and a Doctor of Education degree in leadership in educational administration. He holds superintendent certification and chief school business official certification.

“Dr. Brown has clearly demonstrated success at Belvidere,” said RPS 205 Chief Human Resources Officer Matt Zediker. “His knowledge and caliber coupled with his service on various local boards and non-profit organizations illustrate his local commitment. That combination will ensure a smooth transition for our finance department, which leads the way in ensuring our budget best supports students.”

• Administration
• Above is from:  https://www.rps205.com/community/media-resources

Who is the new Chief Financial Officer at Belvidere Community School District ?

Well there will be an interim CFO.  Here is the contract for  Martin McConahay and is available at:  https://go.boarddocs.com/il/district100/Board.nsf/files/C9BMC45A0656/$file/Letter%20of%20Agreement%20Belvidere%20SD%20100%202021%20Final.pdf

Agreement Between The Board of Education of Belvidere Community Unit School District #100 And McConahay Enterprises L.L.C.

This agreement is by and between the Board of Education of Belvidere Community Unit School District #100 (“District”) and McConahay Enterprises L.L.C. of Spring Grove, Illinois for the provision of independent financial consultant services by McConahay Enterprises L.L.C. to the District.

This agreement shall take effect upon formal approval by the Board of Education and expire on June 30, 2022; provided, however, either party may terminate this agreement without cause at any time before said expiration date upon two (2) weeks written notice to the other party. The parties further agree that McConahay Enterprises L.L.C. and its agents and employees shall be considered in all respects an independent contractor and not an employee(s) of the District.

Furthermore, McConahay Enterprises L.L.C. agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the District, its Board of Education, administrators, employees, agents, contractors, successors and assignees, from and against any and all costs, expenses, damages and liabilities, including actual attorney’s fees, arising out of or in any way caused by the: (1) negligent action or inaction, or willful misconduct of McConahay Enterprises L.L.C., its agents and/or employees; (2) any breach of the terms of this agreement; or (3) any violation of any applicable Federal, State or local law, rule, regulation or ordinance. The aforementioned indemnification provision shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this agreement.

Mr. Martin McConahay, a partner in McConahay Enterprises L.L.C., will be primarily assigned by McConahay Enterprises L.L.C. to work under this agreement. The District’s Superintendent or designee shall utilize Mr. Martin McConahay’s financial consulting expertise and knowledge on a temporary, ”as needed” basis.

The parties agree that no minimum hours of work are guaranteed pursuant to this agreement, and all work performed by Mr. Martin McConahay or his designee and/or replacement shall be billed to the District on an hourly basis at the rate of $110.00 per hour. No other forms of compensation, benefits, nor on-behalf of payments are implied nor shall be made to McConahay Enterprises L.L.C. as part of this agreement. All invoiced amounts paid hereunder shall be subject to IRS Form 1099 reporting requirements.

All hours worked and duties performed shall be submitted in writing to the Superintendent or his designee for approval before being processed for payment at the Board of Education’s next regular meeting.

The terms and conditions of this agreement cannot be changed without the express written consent of both parties.

Signatures: ________________________________________ ___________________________________

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Mr. McConahay was Rockford District 205’s interim Chief Financial Officer in 2016 as witnessed by these school board minutes from District 205.

Agenda Item Details from:  https://go.boarddocs.com/il/rps205/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=AFKL9B545AED

Meeting

Nov 22, 2016 - Rockford Public School District No. 205 Board Meeting Agenda

Category

Other Business/New Business/Agenda Recommendations

Subject

FY16 Audited Financial Statements - Mr. Martin McConahay, Ms. MeriAnn Besonen

SUBMITTED BY:     Mr. Martin McConahay, Interim Chief Financial Officer

                             Ms. MeriAnn Besonen, Executive Director of Finance

                             Ms. Carla Paschal, Senior Manager, Sikich LLP

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Other News Articles regarding Mr. McConahay

D103 board hires business manager

Veteran school finance chief will fill key role for 2019-20

by Bob SkolnikOctober 29, 2019

Martin McConahay, who will serve as D103's interim business manager, has served in similar capacities in almost a dozen other school districts after retiring from full-time work in 2007. (Bob Skolnik/Contributor)

After nearly four months, Lyons-Brookfield School District 103 finally has a business manager again.

On Oct. 22, the District 103 school board voted 6-0 to hire Martin McConahay as interim business manager. McConahay, an experienced, retired business manager, will work part time until July 1, 2020 as the school district looks to hire someone full time for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

McConahay, 69, will be paid $100 an hour and work no more than 600 hours, as his contract limits his pay from District 103 to no more than $60,000.

Working as an interim business manager is nothing new to McConahay. He’s done it 11 times since retiring as the treasurer for Wilmette Public School District 39 in 2007. Before working at Wilmette, he served as an assistant superintendent for finance in Libertyville and North Chicago. Most recently McConahay worked as an interim business manager in Naperville Community Unit District 203.

“I tried to retire and 11 times I’ve done these interims after retirement because I enjoy working in the school setting, and a lot of times schools can use financial assistance, especially on a temporary basis,” McConahay said. “It’s not easy to find permanent business managers midyear and sometimes this helps bridge the gap for them.”

McConahay said that he wants to look at the district’s tax levy and budget process while at District 103 and create a process that will more fully involve department heads and principals.

He said that he is not fazed by being greeted with a budget for 2019-20, also approved on Oct. 25, which projects an operating deficit of about $1.5 million.

“It’s certainly not the only nor the largest deficit I’ve looked at at school districts, so I can take that in stride,” McConahay said. “In fact, that’s a good challenge for me.”

McConahay has already made a good impression in his first week on the job.

“He’s a godsend,” said District 103 Superintendent Kristopher Rivera. “He’s exactly what we need right now: the right type of experience. He was able to sit down and just dive into it. It’s excellent to have him aboard. He’s just super professional, great personality, and just working very hard and very practically and is able to explain at a level that we can all comprehend so we can make some decisions.”

Riverside Elementary School District 96 Director of Finance and Operations Jim Fitton worked under McConahay about a decade ago at Golf School District 67 in Morton Grove and then succeeded McConahay as the business manager there. Fitton said that he learned a lot from McConahay.

“He’s a really nice person, very knowledgeable, always looking out for the best interest of the district,” Fitton said.

The business manager job has been vacant in District 103 since the former business manager, Sherry Reynolds-Whitaker, left on July 1 to take a job with the East St. Louis school district.

During the summer, Rivera had originally wanted to hire Donald McKinney, a former superintendent in a couple of small south suburban districts, as business manager. However, school board President Jorge Torres would not schedule a vote to make the hire.

After Brian Towne was named human resources director at the beginning of September, the school board decided to hire an interim business manager for this year and to then begin a searching for a permanent replacement next year.

Torres has said that he did not have confidence in any hiring process before Towne was hired.

Forty candidates applied for the interim business manager position, but only seven had the required Illinois chief school business official certificate. Phone interviews were done with three candidates, but only McConahay was brought in for a personal interview with Rivera, Towne and Torres. Once they met him they were sure he was the right person for the job.

“I thought he had the strongest grasp and vison for this role,” Towne said.

Rivera, who does not have a strong background in finance, said that he is very happy to have McConahay on the job. Rivera said that he now will be able to concentrate more on some of the tasks he was hired to do.

“It’s going to help immensely,” Rivera said. “There’s just been so many things that I’ve been pulled away from.”

And Rivera is glad to finally have a central office administrative team in place.

“It’s fantastic,” Rivera said. “It took a little while, but we’re here.”

Above is from:  https://www.rblandmark.com/2019/10/29/d103-board-hires-business-manager/

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From Link-IN

Martin McConahay

Financial Services Consultant

• 

  
  

Spring Grove, Illinois, United States

Experience

• 

  Financial Services Consultant - Education

  Company Name

  McConahay Enterprises LLC

  Dates Employed Jul 2007 – Present

  Employment Duration14 yrs 6 mos

  Strategic Planning, Budgeting, Financial Process Improvement, Staff Development

Education

• Bradley, NEIU, NIU,Northwestern U

  Degree Name BS, MA, Post Graduate

  Field Of StudyEd Admin, Ed Finance, Public Policy

November 7: Johns Hopkins COVID 19 Report

COVID-19 Situation Report

Editor: Alyson Browett, MPH

Contributors: Clint Haines, MS; Natasha Kaushal, MSPH; Amanda Kobokovich, MPH; Christina Potter, MSPH; Matthew Shearer, MPH; Marc Trotochaud, MSPH; and, Rachel A. Vahey, MHS.

NEW REPORT The CommuniVax Coalition, led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Department of Anthropology at Texas State University, has released a new report, Waypoint on the Path to Health Equity: COVID-19 Vaccination at Month 11. The report draws from the experience of the coalition’s multidisciplinary working group and their 6 local research teams to present equity wins and enabling conditions observed during the first year of COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the US. The authors provide overarching recommendations to sustain hard-fought equity wins achieved during the COVID-19 response, with actionable recommendations for local, state, and federal government officials.

OMICRON EARLY DATA As scientists worldwide continue to learn more about the newly identified SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) Omicron (B.1.1.529), early data from South Africa suggest that the VOC could be more transmissible and more likely to evade existing immunity from vaccination or natural infection but may cause less serious illness than previous variants. However, experts cautioned about placing too much emphasis on these early indications because of Omicron's novel nature and information on hospitalizations and deaths typically lag several weeks behind initial outbreaks. In South Africa, where some of the earliest Omicron cases were detected, the variant is spreading at an alarming pace, with a near vertical spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases. One estimate, which is not yet peer-reviewed, shows a doubling time of about 3.3 days, more than twice as quickly as Delta. A preprint report on Omicron’s clinical presentations at a large hospital in South Africa suggests the variant may cause less severe disease, although it is still too early to draw conclusions.

There are concerns that Omicron could be more transmissible due to its large number of spike protein mutations, some of which have not been seen in other variants. One preprint analysis (not yet peer-reviewed) conducted by the US-based research firm nference speculates Omicron could have acquired a specific insertion mutation (ins214EPE) from the genome of a different virus, such as a seasonal coronavirus that causes the common cold. The researchers said this genetic code, which has not been detected in other SARS-CoV-2 variants, could make the virus more likely to evade some immune system responses and make it more accustomed to human hosts. Another preprint study (not yet peer-reviewed) from South Africa suggests Omicron may carry an increased risk of reinfection, indicating the virus could escape some immune system defenses and raising questions about vaccine-induced immunity. Previous infection offered some protection against the Beta and Delta variants, but reinfections have increased since the emergence of Omicron. Additional research is needed into Omicron’s potential for immune escape, and experts note that existing immunity—whether from previous infection or vaccination—could still provide some protection from severe disease, hospitalization, or death.

MIX & MATCH BOOSTERS A study published online December 2 in The Lancet describes a randomized, controlled trial investigating the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of 7 SARS-CoV-2 vaccines* administered as third dose boosters to 2,878 patients aged older than 30 years who already received a primary 2-dose regimen of either the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine at least 70 days earlier or the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least 84 days earlier. Reactogenicity was acceptable and most brands elicited a strong immune response to wild-type virus and the Delta variant, particularly the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines as boosters. A majority of the boosters raised antibody levels and neutralizing responses, even in mix-and-match scenarios, although Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna produced much higher levels than the other brands. More research is needed into longer-term immune response and protection from infection after booster dose administration, but the findings provide a basis for policymakers who can now recommend people who initially received the Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines get whichever vaccine booster is available, possibly increasing access to usable booster options.

Another study posted on the medRxiv preprint server (not yet peer-reviewed) on December 5 studied the use of the J&J-Janssen vaccine as a booster for individuals fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least 6 months prior. Findings indicate that using the J&J-Janssen vaccine as a booster produced a slower and more sustained response to wild-type virus and Beta and Delta variants, while a Pfizer-BioNTech booster produced a faster and stronger response that dipped more quickly. These results mildly contradict findings from a US National Institutes of Health clinical trial in which a smaller antibody level increase was documented for the J&J-Janssen booster, but this may be due to a difference in timing between second and third dose boosters for the studies.

*The 7 vaccines used as boosters included those from J&J-Janssen, Moderna, AstraZeneca-Oxford, Pfizer-BioNTech, Novavax, and Valneva, the latter 2 of which are under review in Europe. The investigational SARS-CoV-2 vaccine from CureVac also was used in the study, but the company has since withdrawn the vaccine candidate from the approval process.

US GLOBAL VAX PROGRAM On December 6, USAID announced a new initiative aimed at increasing international coordination of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration through identifying and overcoming barriers to access, dubbed the Initiative for Global Vaccine Access (Global VAX). Sub-Saharan Africa was noted as a priority region for the initiative, which will be a whole-of-government effort. USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced that US$400 million from the American Rescue Plan Act will be allotted to the program, adding to the US$1.3 billion that the US already has committed globally for vaccine readiness. Of the new commitment, US$315 million will support country-specific needs for vaccine delivery and administration in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and US$10 million will support in-country vaccine manufacturing. The remaining US$75 million will be utilized for additional support of USAID’s Rapid Response Surge Support to deliver life-saving resources to COVID-19 hotspots, including an effort to improve oxygen production and delivery. Global VAX efforts supported by these funds include improving cold chain supply and logistics, service delivery, vaccine confidence and demand, human resources, data and analytics, local planning, and vaccine safety and effectiveness.

The US is the leading donor of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines to other countries, but a WHO official said on December 5 that the donations “are not enough” and called on other nations to do more. The Biden administration announced that it is sending 9 million vaccine doses to Africa and 2 million vaccines to other areas of the world. Only about 7.5% of the African population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, compared to the 60% of the US population and 66% of Europeans. With this donation, the US has provided a total of 100 million vaccine doses to Africa and a total of 291 million doses to 110 countries. The announcement was made December 3—with shipments made the same day—and comes 1 day after US President Joe Biden announced new measures to combat COVID-19 through the winter months, both domestically and abroad. Included among those measures is the aim to send more than 200 million vaccine doses abroad in 100 days—focusing on delivery to high-risk countries—and increasing vaccine manufacturing capacity to meet global demand. The latter is 1 of the 3 divisions of funds outlined in the Global VAX initiative.

NEW YORK CITY VACCINE MANDATES On December 6, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced expansions to the city’s “Key to NYC” program, including a new vaccination mandate that will apply to approximately 184,000 private employers and their in-person employees. The city already has the most sweeping local requirements in the nation, mandating vaccinations for city employees; hospital and nursing home workers; employees and customers aged 12 and older of indoor restaurants, entertainment venues, and gyms; and children engaged in high-risk extracurricular activities such as sports, band, or dance. Under the new expansion, those people will now have to show proof of full vaccination by December 27, and children aged 5 to 11 will be required to show at least partial SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (at least 1 dose for 2 dose regimens) beginning December 14 to visit those venues or engage in high-risk extracurricular activities. Mayor de Blasio noted that there would be exemptions on the basis of medical or religious reasons, but the mandates likely will face legal challenges. Enforcement processes of the mandate are currently unclear but are expected to be announced next week. As of today, 78% of New York City residents have received at least one dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and 70% of New Yorker City residents are fully vaccinated.

RESTRICTIONS IN EUROPE Tens of thousands of people gathered this weekend in various northwest European cities to protest newly instituted COVID-19 restrictions amid the region’s ongoing surge in cases. In Vienna, Austria, more than 40,000 demonstrators rallied to show disapproval of the government’s recent announcement of a 20-day lockdown and plans to make vaccinations mandatory beginning in February 2022. The Netherlands saw its first major demonstration against restrictions that began last weekend, including nighttime closures of bars, restaurants, and most stores. Two weeks ago, violent protests erupted after the Dutch government announced plans to ban most unvaccinated people from such public places. In Brussels, Belgium, about 8,000 people protested the government’s recent mitigation requirements, including making mask-wearing mandatory for children older than age 6 and closing kindergartens and primary schools beginning December 20. Police had to use water cannons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators who were throwing objects at them at a roadblock.

In Germany, the government approved plans to make vaccinations mandatory next year and allow only vaccinated and recovered people to access retail shops (excluding essential shops like groceries, pharmacies, and gas stations) and all cultural and recreational events. Additionally, bars and clubs will only be able to operate if the COVID-19 incidence rate is below 350 per 100,000 in a region; most of Germany currently sits above that rate. Police had to break up a protest this past weekend in Frankfurt, and politicians denounced a demonstration that took place on December 3 outside the home of the health minister of Saxony, one of the hardest hit states. And in Greece, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that people aged 60 and older are required to get vaccinated or face monthly fines of 100 euros, about US$113, calling the fees “the price to pay for health.” About 69% of the total population in Greece has received at least 1 dose of vaccine. Speaking today at a press conference, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Kluge cautioned countries that are instituting vaccine mandates, saying they should be used as “an absolute last resort” because they risk eroding public confidence and trust of authorities.

EDUCATION LOSSES In a new report, the World Bank, UNICEF, and UNESCO highlight the COVID-19 pandemic’s negative impacts on education efforts worldwide. The report, launched with an online event, also outlines a resilient path forward, including how to accelerate learning recovery. Pandemic-related school closures have affected more than 1.6 billion learners, not all of whom were offered remote alternatives, and an estimated 24 million children are at risk of never returning to education. Because of these impacts, lifetime earnings losses could hit US$17 trillion, representing a 70% increase over a 2020 estimate. Other education gaps have dramatically increased. The proportion of children who experience learning poverty—described as the inability to read and understand age-appropriate text at age 10—could increase nearly 20% in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to the pandemic. The pandemic also has exacerbated inequity, particularly among children with disabilities, children from low-income households, and girls. The report notes the educational impacts could affect gender equity progress, citing a potential 10 million girls who are at risk of early marriage due to school closures. Globally, a mere 3% of governments’ stimulus packages have been allocated to education. The report called for much more funding and investment in the education sector to facilitate learning recovery in an equitable and resilient education system for all youth.

MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS The US FDA on December 3 expanded the emergency use authorization (EUA) for Eli Lilly and Company’s bamlanivimab and etesevimab—monoclonal antibody treatments administered together—for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in all younger pediatric patients (birth to <12 years old) who are at high risk of progressing to severe disease, including hospitalization or death. The FDA also authorized the drugs to be used for post-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of COVID-19 in all younger pediatric patients at high risk of severe COVID-19, although the agency noted this should not be considered a substitution for vaccination. The revised EUA is the first for an antibody treatment for young children, as the drugs previously were authorized for pediatric patients aged 12 and older weighing at least 40 kilograms (about 88 pounds). The drugs’ dosages are calculated based on body weight and administered by injection or intravenously at a clinic or hospital. The authorization is based on data from a clinical trial of 125 pediatric patients. Lilly said that more than 700,000 patients have been treated with bamlanivimab or bamlanivimab and etesevimab to date, estimating that the treatment has potentially prevented more than 35,000 hospitalizations and about 14,000 deaths

December 2: Johns Hopkins COVID 19 Report

COVID-19 Situation Report

Editor: Alyson Browett, MPH

Contributors: Clint Haines, MS; Natasha Kaushal, MSPH; Amanda Kobokovich, MPH; Christina Potter, MSPH; Matthew Shearer, MPH; Marc Trotochaud, MSPH; and, Rachel A. Vahey, MHS.

GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY INDEX COVID-19 continues to disrupt lives and livelihoods, stress health systems, and exhaust social protections and government budgets—and it will not be the last global health emergency the world will face. On December 8 at 9 am ET, join the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and the Nuclear Threat Initiative for the launch of the 2021 Global Health Security Index, a comprehensive assessment that provides a benchmark for capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to epidemics and pandemics across 195 countries. The need for durable national health capacities and political and social environments that foster effective prevention and response measures has never been clearer. Register in advance.

EPI UPDATE The WHO COVID-19 Dashboard reports 262.2 million cumulative cases and 5.2 million deaths worldwide as of December 1. Global weekly incidence increased for the sixth consecutive week, while global weekly mortality declined from the previous week. Weekly incidence increased by 5.61% compared to the previous week, and mortality decreased by 9.4%. During the week ending November 30, nearly 3.8 million new cases were reported, with the African, Western Pacific, and European regions reporting increases, according to the WHO COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update. While the overall number of deaths decreased, 2 regions—South-East Asia and Africa—reported increases of 26% and 7%, respectively. Notably, the European region reported the highest weekly incidence in deaths of 3.1 per 100,000 population, while <1 new death per 100,000 was reported in all other regions.

The newly designated variant of concern (VOC), Omicron, appears to be in at least 23 countries and continues to be detected in new areas, according to the WHO. GISAID reports 25 countries and territories have confirmed Omicron cases, while BNO News reports cases of the VOC have been confirmed in 31 countries and territories, totaling 379. In South Africa, where Omicron was first identified, health authorities are reporting a dramatic surge in the number of new COVID-19 cases. Since November 24, when health officials notified the WHO about the new variant, the 7-day average of daily cases has increased nearly 6-fold. The number of newly confirmed cases doubled on December 1 over the previous day’s count, rising from 4,373 to 8,561, and experts are bracing for even greater increases. The US has confirmed 2 cases of Omicron, while 15 nations in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) have reported a total of 79 Omicron cases as of today, with 20 of those cases being confirmed since yesterday. Notably, the majority of the cases have a history of travel to African countries, but several cases of apparent community transmission have been documented, including in the US.

It appears Omicron is outpacing the Delta VOC in South Africa, but it remains unclear whether the new VOC will overtake Delta in other regions, such as Europe, where Delta remains the dominant circulating variant. Notably, prior to Omicron, South Africa did not have much circulating Delta. While Omicron certainly seems to be more transmissible than Delta—and appears to be capable of causing breakthrough cases among vaccinated individuals—we continue to await lab and real-world data about how Omicron’s mutations impact transmissibility, vaccine-induced and natural immunity effectiveness, and disease severity.

Global Vaccination

The WHO reported 7.9 billion cumulative doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines administered globally as of December 1. A total of 4.2 billion individuals have received at least 1 dose, and 3.28 billion are fully vaccinated. Analysis from Our World in Data indicates that the overall trend in global daily vaccinations has increased over the past week, up to 32.78 million doses per day on December 1 from a recent low of 30.74 million doses per day on November 27.*

Our World in Data estimates that there are 4.3 billion vaccinated individuals worldwide (1+ dose; 54.62% of the global population) and 3.45 billion who are fully vaccinated (43.61% of the global population).

*The average daily doses administered may exhibit a sharp decrease for the most recent data, particularly over the weekend, which indicates effects of reporting delays. In an effort to reflect the longer-term trends, the numbers reported here may not correspond to the most recent data.

UNITED STATES

The US CDC reports 48.5 million cumulative COVID-19 cases and 780,131 deaths. The current daily incidence average is approximately 80,230 new cases per day and appears to be holding relatively steady since mid-November, although there may be reporting delays due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Daily mortality appears to have dropped over the holiday—likely due to lags in reporting—but appears to be rising again, with the US currently averaging 816 deaths per day.*

*Changes in state-level reporting may affect the accuracy of recently reported data, particularly over weekends. In an effort to reflect the longer-term trends, the numbers reported here may not correspond to the most recent dates.

US Vaccination

The US has administered 462.3 million cumulative doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The daily vaccination trend reached a recent peak at 1.44 million doses on November 23 but has declined sharply to 1.03 million doses as of November 26.*

There are 233.6 million individuals who have received at least 1 vaccine dose, equivalent to 70.4% of the entire US population. Among adults, 82.8% have received at least 1 dose, as well as 19.8 million children under the age of 18. A total of 197.4 million individuals are fully vaccinated, which corresponds to 59.4% of the total population. Approximately 71.2% of adults are fully vaccinated, as well as 13.5 million children under the age of 18. Since August 13, 41.9 million fully vaccinated individuals have received an additional or booster dose, including 44.7% of fully vaccinated adults aged 65 years or older.

*Due to delays in reporting, estimates for the average daily doses administered are less accurate for the most recent 5 days. The most current average provided here corresponds to 5 days ago.

FIRST OMICRON CASES IN US The US has confirmed 2 cases of SARS-CoV-2 caused by the Omicron variant of concern (VOC). The first case was confirmed by California state health and US CDC officials on the afternoon of December 1. That patient is a fully vaccinated (not boosted) teacher from San Francisco, who returned from a trip to South Africa on November 22 and tested positive on November 29. The patient’s symptoms were mild, and they are recovering at home. The second case was confirmed today in a fully vaccinated man who traveled to New York City to attend the Anime NYC 2021 convention at the Javits Center from November 19-21. That patient has since recovered. In both cases, officials are conducting contact tracing but have not yet identified linked cases. More Omicron cases likely will be confirmed in the US over the coming days, especially considering the second case—who did not travel outside of the US—indicates Omicron is spreading within the nation. Additionally, domestic viral sequencing has increased significantly since the start of the pandemic, increasing the likelihood that other cases will be identified.

In response to the emergence of Omicron, US President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver a speech at 1 pm ET today outlining a domestic plan for COVID-19 in the winter months. He is expected to announce an extension to mask mandates on public transit into March 2022. The mandate was set to end on January 18, 2022, and this new extension will extend until March 18, 2022. Reportedly, President Biden also will announce tighter restrictions for all individuals entering the US via air travel, including providing proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of entering the country. Other pieces of the Biden administration’s 9-pronged plan likely will include efforts to increase SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and booster dose uptake and access to at-home COVID-19 tests.

As of now, many unknowns remain about how the Omicron VOC will impact the US and other nations, with uncertainties regarding economic recovery looming. On one hand, there is hope that people with vaccine-induced or natural immunity will be somewhat protected against severe disease, although the CEO of Moderna recently predicted that the current cadre of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines likely will be less effective against Omicron. All of the vaccine manufacturers are working on strategies to combat the new VOC, with new vaccines or booster doses expected to be ready within 3 months.

US VACCINE REQUIREMENTS A federal judge in Louisiana on November 30 temporarily halted enforcement of the Biden administration’s SARS-CoV-2 vaccine requirements for healthcare workers employed at institutions receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding, 1 of 3 court decisions this week that call for a freeze on vaccination rules as they make their way through the courts. One of the emergency regulations in question, issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), requires healthcare workers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 4, 2022, or risk their facilities losing Medicare and Medicaid funding. The day before, a federal judge in St. Louis, Missouri issued a preliminary injunction on the CMS requirement that blocked its enforcement in 10 states. The ruling from US District Judge Terry Doughty of the Fifth Judicial District Court in Louisiana applies nationwide, except in the 10 states covered under the prior order. In his opinion, Judge Doughty cited protection of the separation of powers under the US Constitution, saying the Biden administration does not have the authority to bypass the US Congress during “indefinite states of emergency.” The US Department of Justice did not comment on the order, but the department already has asked the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals to revive the mandate blocked on November 30 by the Missouri district court, and it is expected to do so in the Louisiana case.

In a separate case, US District Judge Gregory Frederick Van Tatenhove of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky granted a preliminary injunction of the Biden administration’s vaccine requirements for employees of government contractors, which prevents the rule’s enforcement in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee while it makes its way through the courts. The White House defended the regulation and said the Justice Department will defend it in court. Another temporary standard issued through the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requiring employers with 100 or more employees to compel their employees to be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing is on hold due to a separate court order. In the latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor, released today, more than half of employees who work for such companies either say their employer already requires vaccination (36%) or say they want their employer to require it (17%). Four (4) in 10 employees (41%) say they do not want their employer to require SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

PANDEMIC TREATY At the conclusion of a special session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) on December 1—only the second to ever be held since the WHO’s founding in 1948—WHO member states agreed to begin negotiations on an international agreement, or “pandemic treaty,” meant to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Looking ahead, a newly formed intergovernmental negotiating body will meet at least once by March 1, 2022, and a second time by August 1, 2022; deliver a progress report to the 76th World Health Assembly in 2023; and submit a final document for consideration by the 77th World Health Assembly in 2024. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the consensus decision—which came less than a week after the designation of Omicron as a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern—said the action “is cause for celebration, and cause for hope.” Notably, the adopted resolution stops short of calling for a legally binding instrument, which has seen support from the WHO Director-General, the EU, and Britain. The US said it supports the development of “a new WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument and making agreements to improve the effectiveness and agility of international health regulations.” Other nations, including China and Russia, have shown hesitation toward approving a legally binding agreement. The process resulting from the WHA’s decision will be long and likely fraught with politicization and setbacks.

POST-SEVERE COVID-19 MORTALITY RISK Researchers are learning more about the post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), including the symptoms of so-called long COVID, and a recent report published in Frontiers in Medicine raises concerns for people who are recovered from severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalization. The analysis of more than 13,500 patients conducted by researchers in Florida (US) found that severe COVID-19 patients were significantly more likely to die in the year following recovery than patients who had mild disease or never contracted the illness. For patients with severe COVID-19, the adjusted all-cause mortality risk was significantly higher compared with both COVID-19-negative patients (HR 2.50; 95% CI 2.02, 3.09) and patients who had mild COVID-19 (HR 1.87; 95% CI 1.28, 2.74). A majority of the deaths (79.5%) were due to causes other than respiratory or cardiovascular reasons, and the risk of death within 1 year was 3 times as high for patients younger than 65 years compared with COVID-19-negative patients under age 65 (HR 3.33; 95% CI 2.35, 4.73). The study’s findings suggest that patients with severe COVID-19 experienced an overall decline in their health after recovery, leaving them vulnerable to other health conditions, and underline the importance of vaccination, which is highly effective at preventing severe COVID-19.

LUNG TRANSPLANTS Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, about 2,000 lung transplants occurred each year in the US, primarily for patients with lung diseases such as emphysema, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary fibrosis. But the number of lung transplants for COVID-19 patients is rising quickly, increasing tenfold in the first 2 years of the pandemic, while the overall number of lung transplants is down compared with previous years, according to data from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Currently, almost 1 in 10 lung transplants are performed in COVID-19 patients, and nearly 240 people nationwide have received lung transplants due to COVID-19 since August 2020. The rising demand for COVID-related lung transplants is forcing medical professionals to confront the complicated ethical issue of who should get the few available transplants. The American Society of Transplant Surgeons says in a position statement that “‘good medicine’ is to mitigate against known risks, and vaccination is an effective tool that decreases the risk for the transplant candidate and recipient.” In line with this recommendation, some transplant centers have stated outright that patients on waiting lists will lose their spot if they are not vaccinated against COVID-19. Part of this reasoning is because transplant recipients, who need to take immune-suppressing drugs for life, are more vulnerable to acquiring infections, including COVID-19, that could threaten their lives.

Belvidere Assembly Plant to shut down again, starting December 6th

Belvidere, IL

Belvidere Assembly Plant to shut down again, starting December 6th

By WTVO

MyStateline.com WTVO WQRF

1 day ago

BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO) — Automaker Stellantis has decided to idle the FCA Belvidere Assembly Plant again, from December 6th to 11th, citing the “unprecedented global microchip shortage.”

Hundreds of workers have been off the job for weeks this year, and in October, the company offered 1,100 employees they had the option to relocate to other plants, quit, or be fired .

Many locals hope that Governor J.B. Pritzker’s “ Reimagining Electric Vehicles Act ” can breath new life into the Stellantis Assembly Plant.

The company is expected to make decisions within the next six months on which facilities to build or retool to accommodate electric vehicle manufacturing.

Stellantis and Samsung recently partnered to create electric vehicle batteries.

More than 2,000 jobs will have been eliminated from the facility by the end of the year, but officials said that electric vehicles can bring some of those jobs back to Boone County.

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